While in France, he joined a group of fellow left-wing Italian militants who were granted official protection by France's then-socialist president Francois Mitterrand.

At the time, France was offering sanctuary to former leftist militants from Italy who had renounced their violent pasts – an offer taken up by several former guerrillas.

These militants had, like Battisti, also escaped a particularly violent period of recent Italian history in the 1970s and 1980s. That era is now known as "anni di piombo" (years of lead) – referring to the vast number of bullets fired.

During this time, militants on both ends of the political spectrum carried out assassinations, bombings and other violent attacks, with the aim of overthrowing the Italian government.

It was in France that Battisti began a successful career as a writer, publishing a number of crime novels.

But in 2004 the political situation in France changed, and former militants were no longer protected. To avoid extradition, Battisti moved to Mexico and later to Brazil.

He was arrested by Brazilian authorities in 2007 and jailed, prompting the Italian government to put in another extradition request.

President Lula rejected the request on his last day in office – a move that angered Italy, which withdrew its ambassador.

Battisti was released from prison in Brazil in 2011, and enjoyed relative protection until Mr Bolsonaro's election success at the end of last year.